22 FORAGE CROPS IN NEBRASKA. 



method avoids the necessity in pasturing the fields of subdividing- them 

 by .erecting permanent or temporary fences. The great disadvantage 

 of Isoiling is the extra expense of the labor necessary in cutting, haul- 

 ing, and feeding the green forage. For this reason it is not practicable 

 to utilize forage in this way on any large scale except in intensive farm- 

 ing, more particularly dairy farming in Nebraska. On a small scale 

 almost every farmer cuts in early summer green grain, especially oats 

 or rye, to feed to hogs or cattle. Later in the summer corn is cut and 

 fed in the same manner, supplementing the pastures, which usually 

 develop a shortage in August. The sum total of forage used in this 

 way in Nebraska is not inconsiderable, yet in most cases it is incidental 

 and the crops are not sown primarily for soiling purposes; neither is 

 the soiling usually a definite part of the system of agriculture. 



In dairy farming it ma} T be advantageous to adopt soiling as a 

 definite system in order to obtain a maximum 3-ield of succulent 

 forage from a small area. For this purpose it is best to plan a series 

 of i crops which will form a succession through the growing season. 

 The individual crops depend upon the locality and must be chosen to 

 suit conditions. Near large cities, where land is valuable, it often pays 

 to have such a succession which, combined with silage during the 

 winter, will give green feed the entire year. Usually, however, at 

 least in Nebraska, soiling is resorted to only to fill in the gaps of a 

 succulent pasture series, even in daiiy farming. For example, early 

 and late green feed ma} T be produced by a pasture of rye. A proper 

 sowing of oats or rye may then furnish soiling in connection with 

 grass pasture. If there is sufficient area of pasture this ma} T furnish 

 all the feed necessaiy T during jVLoy and June, but such pasture usual ly 

 shows a marked falling off about the 1st of July, as is indicated by 

 the shrinkage in the milk flow. This shrinkage should b} r all means 

 be avoided, and it is therefore desirable to furnish at this time soiling 

 crops for the rest of the summer in connection with the pasture. 

 Besides the small grains and corn mentioned, there are several other 

 plants that can be used for soiling, particularly- sorghum, Kafir corn, 

 cowpeas, soy beans, and rape. The latter is not so well adapted to 

 milch cows, as there is danger of tainting the milk. Alfalfa and 

 clover can be used, but in Nebraska they have no special adaptation for 

 this purpose. Rape is an excellent soiling crop for hogs, sheep, or 

 growing cattle during the autumn. For further information on this 

 subject the reader is referred to the article in the Yearbook of the 

 United States Department of Agriculture for 1899, page 613, entitled 

 "Succulent forage for the farm and dairy," by Thomas A. Williams. 



Silage. — Forage preserved in a green state in such a manner as to 

 prevent decomposition or drying is called silage. The pits, rooms, or 

 tanks in which the forage is preserved are known as silos. The 



